Touring the auld Skiff country

Here is a second report from Deb and Martin Van Riddle on their 'Skiff tour' of Scotland.

'What was interesting was that many boats, both well used and currently being built, had the same oar system as the LBT skiff ‘Freyja’ - the thole pin and oar plate.

First there was the organised fun in boats on Harris – here are some of the local boats (below from left (Arnol, Yackidoola and Blue Moon).

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Then there was a community come and try rowing day on Lewis on a loch walking distance from our accommodation..

This well-loved Stornoway skiff (below) was at their harbour and boat ramp.

Then we went island hopping by ferry from Lewis and Harris, down to North Uist. Here we accidentally spent most of the day with skiffs. Firstly with the Berneray skiff which will be launched in a few days being finished by Stu and Norman.

In Grimsay a 5 year build of a skiff was nearing completion by Robert. Below is Martin helping trial a prototype half oar for people who catch lots of crabs!

On Barra Island there are two skiffs, kept in two sites about 6kms apart. Two pics of the Vatersay Skiff below, kept just by the side of the road, guarded by a chicken.

The Brevaq skiff in the centre of the scenic bay below.

Next stop was Edinburgh we caught up with Ali Grant and the Rowporty folk in Portobello. Here we are out in ‘Icebreaker’ with Ali Grant, Malcolm Stewart, Larry Foster, Martin, and Deb coxing.

Along from Rowporty is another club, Fisherrow & Musselburgh, in a lovely harbour with serious tides. Below Martin Riddle with Ali Grant.

This wasn’t the end as when we went south to Dunfries, a second skiff had just been launched in the neighbouring town of Annan, called ‘The Pride of the Solway’!

The nice ending to this story is that as we drove back into Franklin, our home port, two of the three skiffs were out rowing on the Huon River.'